Hometown Softball Broadcast Recap for New Castle on 5/2/14

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, May 2, 2014 | 11:33 PM

In maybe the best comeback of the season, the New Castle Red Hurricanes rallied from a 6-0 fourth inning deficit to defeat the Hopewell Vikings and move ever so closer to a fourth straight berth in the WPIAL Softball Playoffs.

The Red Hurricanes posted three runs in the bottom of the fourth and then sent twelve hitters to the plate, scoring eight runs on the way to the win. New Castle is now 7-3 overall and 6-3 in Section 1-AAA, having won six straight section games.

Hopewell led 1-0 after a half inning, Holly Singer grounded into a double play but Jaime Moore scored from third. The Vikings added three more in the second after two outs. Moore singled home two runs, Andie Baughman doubled home another. The Vikings scored two more in the fourth, taking advantage of two New Castle errors.

New Castle scored three in the bottom of the fourth, using two Hopewell errors and timely hitting by Nicole Houk and Allie Dovido, with back to back run scoring singles.

Alyea Cioffi was able to get out of a jam in the fifth, by helping herself out iwth the glove, getting a lead run at third base, a caught stealing of third on a nice throw by Abba Frengel and finally a strong throw by Dovido from third.

That set the stage for the New Castle rally. Sarah Antonelli singled to start the inning, she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cioffi singled off the ankle of Hopewell pitcher Brea Vasquez and into shallow left center field. Both Vasquez and outfielder Kyra Honeywill were forced to leave the game, shifting Jess Hughes into the circle. The next five Red Hurricanes batters reached base. Hughes also took a shot off her pitching forearm on an Aleigha Withrow comebacker up the middle. New Castle ended with eight runs on seven hits in the inning and a 11-6 lead.

Cioffi got out of danger again in the sixth with two on, getting Baughman to come back to the circle to get the lead runner again at third. Cioffi then struck out Singer to end the inning. The senior pitcher ended the game with five punchouts.

For New Castle, Houk was the big star, going 4 for 4 and two runs. Antonelli and Cioffi each were 2-4 with two runs driven in. Jenna Frank and Dovido each had two hits. Cioffi was the winning pitcher, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits.

For the Vikings, Vasquez pitched 4 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits. Hughes takes the loss, going 2 innings with 6 runs and 6 hits. Moore, Baughman and Megan Ramaley each had two hits. Ramaley made a diving catch to end the fifth inning. Baughman also made a shoe top catch in the first, she left the game in the bottom of the sixth. Hopewell falls to 2-10 overall and 0-9 in section play.